The biggest collection of lighthouses in the National Park Service could get bigger, if Congress transfers the Ashland Light from the Coast Guard to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

Mike Simonson reports.

Right now, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore has eight lighthouses on six islands. The Ashland light station would bring the total to nine if bills sponsored by Senator Tammy Baldwin and Congressman Sean Duffy pass. Duffy says the 1915 vintage lighthouse is a good fit.

"It’s important that the great history of our community and the lakes are preserved. And to include that lighthouse into the National Park is really important. I’m honored that Senator Baldwin wants to work with me.”

The Apostle Islands lighthouses date back to the Civil War into the early 20th Century. Lakeshore Superintendent Bob Krumanaker says Ashland’s light would complete the set.

“The ones already in the park have been recognized as the most significant collection at the historic lighthouses of any National Park in the country, and yet a lot of people don’t realize how much the Ashland harbor breakwater light is really related to the set. It’s also on the National Registry of Historic Places.”

Krumanaker says Ashlanders are proud of their lighthouse.

“If you look at the symbols that are used in the newspaper and the Ford dealer, the hotel, the Chamber of Commerce, the lighthouse is everywhere in that city and yet very few people have been there and very few people know anything about it.”

Ironically, the proposed transfer of the lighthouse comes as Ashland’s last ore dock…built a year after the lighthouse…is being demolished.